Bongs – How do they work?

Also known as water pipes, or in slang terms known as a binger, bongs have been part of the vapor culture for a long time tracing as far back as Ming Dynasty in the 16th century. Said to have been derived from the word ‘’baung’’, in the form of a bamboo pipe, the bong has revolutionised into a cylindrical device that many use to enjoy their dry herbs. Bongs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and in a variety of different materials, such as glass and ceramic, stretching as far as your everyday Coke bottle. We recommend avoiding the plastic bottles however and investing in a high quality bong.

Your standard bong includes a variety of components, such as;

Bowl – The area where you load your dry herb, it is often removable, allowing easier access for the user.

Carb – Short for carburetor, this component allows the user to clear away the smoke in the chamber.

Downstem – This is a small tube that directs the smoke from the bowl down to the base, where it percolates through water.

Base – This is the bottom of the bong coming in a variety of shapes and sizes based on your bongs design. Most common is the beaker shaped bong or bubble shaped to create the water chamber in which he smoke cools as it passes through the water.

Tube – This is the chamber that fills with smoke once it has passed through the water chamber. This component is attached to the mouthpiece.

With the growing demand for bongs, they now come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, designs and colors to suit a variety of preferences. It helps to be informed when trying to choose the best water pipe for your weed.

Once you light your bowl it heats your dry herb, it produces smoke which is then passed through a water chamber to cool it down as you inhale through the mouthpiece at the end of the tube. The small bubbles you see when this happens is a mini vacuum which pulls the smoke into the chamber. Once you pull the carb away it allows the smoke to pass from the bong into your lungs.

The Advantages of Owning a Bong

Not coming as much of a surprise, the main advantage of a bong is its ability to cool smoke through water before you inhale it. While passing through the water another advantage is that the water removes some harmful toxins before you inhale it. If you are a frequent bong user you will notice that over time a yellowish tint will form on the bong, showing all the harmful toxins you are avoiding and are instead residing on your bong. Other advantages include the fact that you get a smoother toke in comparison to smoking it which can be harsh on your throat and lungs and the flavor is maintained throughout your session.

Bongs and water pipes have also had a reputation of not being portable. This is simply not true, you can easily source a portable and durable bong that will suit your needs. When choosing your weapon of choice, first consider its primary use and how you intend to regularly use it and secondly depending on its primary use choose the material which will best ensure its durability. For example, if your searching for a portable bong, it’s a good decision to consider purchasing a bong made from a more durable material i.e. acrylic or plastic.

Conclusion

With a variety of alternative ways of smoking your dry herbs constantly arriving onto the market you’re not stuck for choice. So, with all these new options of inhalation out there, sometimes it’s worth revisiting the classics. Bongs now come with a variety of accessories meaning you can continuously improve your smoking experience.